HASLEMERE swung back to the Conservatives with a bigger majority in  Surrey County Council 2017 elections.

Former army officer Richard Hampson repainted the town blue with a resounding 1,849 votes, following four years with Haslemere Independent Nikki Barton in the hot seat.

“I’m very grateful to the people who not only voted for me but took the time to vote,” he told The Herald at the count.

“Since leaving the army I have wanted to continue to serve my country. As an elected public servant this is an opportunity to serve my town.”

Surrey’s deputy leader Peter Martin, who has served  Godalming South, Milford and Witley ward for 12 years,  was re-elected with a landslide 2,484 votes.

“I think Surrey will end up with more Conservatives than we started with,” he said. “Across the country we appear to have done very well.”

 Results:

HASLEMERE: Richard Hampson (Cons) 1,849,  Kim Hemmingway (Lab) 200, John Robini (Lib Dem) 990, Jon Taylor (Green) 304, Gail Weingartner (Ukip) 164. Turnout 36.74%